In an emotional segment on CNN Tonight, host Don Lemon shared his thoughts on the uproar surrounding Kevin Hart and the Oscars.

Lemon, who is openly gay, addressed Hart directly, saying, "Kevin, if anything this is the time to hear other people out, to hear why they might have been offended. I don’t see any meaningful outreach to the community…. and now you want the conversation to end." Lemon added that, for many people, the apologies Hart has given have fallen flat. "To many they seem insincere, and that he has somehow turned himself into a victim instead of acknowledging the real victims of violent and sometimes deadly homophobia."

In an Instagram post, the Oscars host dismisses the backlash as "craziness stop looking for reasons to be negative."

"Walking away right now, that is your choice, but many of us need to keep the conversation going," he added. "It’s life or death. Someone like Kevin Hart can be a leader — the ultimate change agent — he can help change homophobia in the black community."

His comments came after Hart was interviewed by fellow comedian and former Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres, during which she defended his position and suggested he has apologized enough for the anti-gay tweets that caused mass controversy and resulted in Hart stepping down from the hosting role.

DeGeneres reportedly received word from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences that Hart would be able to reverse his decision and she encouraged him to do so.

Of DeGeneres, he called her a trailblazer and said that having Hart on her show was "an olive branch" but he said that she doesn't speak for the whole LGBTQ community. "We need to speak up for the young black kids in the LGBTQ community," he said. "I'm saying these issues need to be addressed. Because [LGBTQ youth] need to know that they have value and it’s ok to be who they are. We have to stop low key co-signing homophobia. It’s not cool. We won’t tolerate jokes that do otherwise."

Michael Che Defends Kevin Hart on 'SNL': Watch

“Didn’t the Academy nominate Mel Gibson for an award just last year?” he asked, referencing controversial racist statements the director made a few years ago. “Also, if Kevin Hart isn’t clean enough to host the Oscars then no black comic is. The only black comic I know that’s cleaner than Kevin Hart is booked for the next 3-10 years,” Che said as a picture of Bill Cosby was shown.

He later reiterated that he thought Hart would eventually host the Oscars and that he hoped that "he will do the right thing." He said he's open to talking to the comedian or to DeGeneres or the Academy, and that "no one is out to get anyone else here."

GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis also appeared on the show Friday evening to discuss the latest developments concerning Hart and his suitability to host the Oscars.

Ellis said that GLAAD hopes "that he can still step up, not step down" to the hosting opportunity because the LGBTQ community needs "more allies than ever." She referenced a recent FBI report that indicated hate crimes have increased by 17 percent.

"This is an enormous opportunity for him to use his voice and his platform and share his evolution," she expressed.

Ellis admitted that as a gay woman, she understands that nobody is perfect. "People evolve, and LGBTQ people are open to acceptance," she continued.

Kevin Hart 'evaluating' his decision to step down as Oscars host as Ellen DeGeneres voices support

Kevin Hart Oscars host controversy: Ellen DeGeneres voices support “They were like, ‘Oh my God. we want him to host. We feel like maybe he misunderstood or it was handled wrong or maybe we said the wrong thing but we want him to host,'” DeGeneres tells Hart and the audience of her conversation. Later she comes back from commercial break introducing her guest as “this year’s Oscars host, Kevin Hart.” “I think you have said a lot of amazing things. You’ve put a lot of things on my mind,” Hart tells DeGeneres during his hour-long interview.

"We are not going after Hart," Ellis emphasized. "We feel he has an opportunity to step up." During the appearance, Ellis suggested that Hart would be a "wonderful host."

Elllis ended her appearance with, "If he has evolved, there is so much good he can do with his platform."

In a statement earlier in the day, Ellis said, “From when this news first broke, GLAAD said Kevin Hart should not step down from the Oscars, he should step up and send an unequivocal message of acceptance to LGBTQ youth that matches the force and impact of his initial anti-LGBTQ remarks."

While the host remains unclear, the 91st Academy Awards will take place as scheduled on Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theater.

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